The State of California, San Bernardino Council of Governments, and partners at Daylight Transport and BYD Motors have announced the arrival of the first of 27 zero-emission electric yard and service trucks in three disadvantaged communities in Southern California.

BYD is providing the 27 vehicles, of which 23 will be battery-electric Class 8 yard trucks and four will be Class 5 service trucks. Three yard trucks and a service truck will be operated by Daylight while the other 23 trucks will operate at two BNSF Railway rail yards in San Bernardino and Los Angeles. BNSF will receive its trucks in the summer.

Funded by the state’s cap-and-trade program and other programs, the demonstration truck project is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that invests in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment.

“It’s exciting to see the first of these ultra-clean trucks roll off the manufacturing line in Lancaster and get to work moving cargo in Fontana,” said Mary D. Nichols, California Air Resources Board chair. “Electric trucks mean cleaner air for all Californians, especially those who live in neighborhoods close to freight transfer facilities and rail yards.”

The two types of trucks funded by the grant are the most common vehicles at major freight locations in the U.S. and are aimed at providing a model for truck electrification that could be scaled to any facility.

CalStart, a Pasadena, Calif.-based clean transportation not-for-profit, will be evaluating the future potential for commercialization and job creation.

“Daylight Transport is excited to participate in the rollout of zero-emission yard trucks. We are committed to clean energy and sustainability,” said Greg Steele, Daylight Transport executive vice president. “The collaboration with CARB, SBCOG and BYD will help us toward reducing our carbon footprint and operating in a continuously more environmentally conscious manner. This is an outstanding way to introduce ourselves to the Fontana community.”

DayLight Transport will operate the trucks out of a newly constructed facility that will include a 600-kilowatt solar system that covers nearly the entire 60,000-square-foot warehouse. The solar power system will be used to power the electric vehicles.

The project aims to reduce emissions over the course of two years by around 2,500 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, 3,250 pounds of nitrogen oxide, and 170 pounds of diesel soot.